REVIEW: GIVE A LITTLE by Plumtree Theatre at Etcetera Theatre 12 – 13 August 2022 / Camden Fringe

 ‘… beautifully orchestrated, with humour, with compassion and lots of nice touches’  ★★★★

A charmingly shown tale which focuses on the purpose of the family unit. Traditionally British families raise their children to become independent, and to live their own lives, but what happens in the case of need; when one parent needs care. Who becomes responsible for that?  Sometimes, it’s one of the children who stays at home, and sometimes it’s the grandparents or it’s both.

There may be no big surprises in this linear tale, but it is beautifully orchestrated, with humour, with compassion and lots of nice touches which keep the viewer absorbed until the terrifically well-designed ending of the show.

There is a clever writing device of using mum’s birthday celebrations as a way to mark the years. This duologue between two sisters shows the pair (performed by Izzy Kersley and Caitlin Plummer) giving each other presents in celebration of their mother’s birthday. The presents themselves show their changing relationship and their dialogue about their mother also reports the progress of her disease. One daughter hides from the reality whilst the other takes the brunt of the strain of it.

The actors, play their roles with immense skill, bringing out the laugh out loud humour, and drawing a clear distinction of their very different characters and responses to what is happening in the background (unseen but imagined by the audience). 

A really accomplished script, beautifully acted with pacey direction. The scene changes were dynamic and quite fun as the pair walked around the stage to upbeat music changing their costumes which easily conveyed the passage of time. Another year gone and another year of the disease taking its toll. 

As audience members it’s important that we learn something, and we surely do (unless we’ve experienced this disease in our lives), it informs our understanding of what it’s like to be in this position.

GIVE A LITTLE by Plumtree Theatre at Etcetera Theatre / Camden Fringe

12 – 13 August

https://camden.ssboxoffice.com/events/give-a-little/

Cast

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Lila:                                       Izzy Kersley 

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Emily:                                               Caitlin Plummer

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Creatives

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Directors:                            Caitlin Plummer and Izzy Kersley

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Writers:                               Caitlin Plummer and Izzy Kersley

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Producer:                             Luke Bromley

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Sound Design:                    Caitlin Plummer

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Set Design:                          Caitlin Plummer

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Props Supervisor:             Izzy Kersley

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Technical Operator:                      Rebecca Lyon

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Reviewed by Heather Jeffery